Creative New Zealand’s new fund structure from 2024, explained

We’ve put together some notes to help you understand Creative New Zealand’s new fund structure from 2024.

Overview

• Eight new funds with a clear split between individual arts practitioners and arts organisations.
• Funding based around creation and not final production.
• Emphasis is on vision and purpose, valuing artists’ time, supporting longer-term development and building relationships with artists and organisations outside of funding.
• An avenue for artists to apply for funding to experiment, rather than deliver regimented results.  A return to the PACE model.
• Moving away from short-term, specific project, recognising that organisations have multiple stakeholders and sources of revenue and not all that can be confirmed at the time of an application.  Looking at the wider purpose and impact that that group is having within its community.
• Greater flexibility in terms of how they apply the funding – more of a core funding approach and a greater certainty – either 12-months or 24 months of commitment.
• Assessments – CNZ has a voice in decision-making, not just external assessors, and takes the lead in strategic impact assessments aligning with CNZ priorities.  External assessors focus on the art/critical thinking.

Funds

Creative Fellowship Fund – support artists, practitioners and collaboratives to develop, innovate and create [twice a year].  Up to 6 months [$25k] or up to 18 months [$50k] towards living costs, materials and resources needed to produce work.

Development Fund for Artists and Practitioners – support artists and practitioners expand skills and careers through specific professional and creative development initiatives.

Creative Impact Fund – support artists, practitioners, and collaboratives to make, share and present work that enriches audiences and communities encouraging understanding and participation [twice a year]

Early Career Fund – support artists, practitioners, and collaboratives at the early stage of their career who wish to learn, create, and share their mahi with their communities and have the support of a mentor [open all year around, four notification periods, up to $10k].

Development Fund for Arts Organisations and Groups – for organisations and groups to build their capability in key areas to create long-term success.

Arts Organisations and Groups Fund [up to $50k] – for organisations and groups to deliver a programme of work for up to two years.

Arts Organisations and Groups Fund [$50k-$125k] – ditto above

Residencies, Internships and Fellowships Fund – support providers to offer a residency, fellowship, or internship for New Zealand artists and practitioners for up to three years

New Leaders programme – supports new and emerging leaders to grow their skills and build peer support networks [no grants are offered as part of it]

The Detail – Arts Organisations

Development Fund for Arts Organisations and Groups

• Build capability in key areas
• Have a particular purpose or vision;  be engaged in ongoing activity;  continue operating even if people change.
• Not all will have a formal strategic plan, professional staff, or to be a legal entity.

Purpose:  Support for arts organisations and groups to build business expertise and capability – skills to help with longer term success

Funds: Up to $20k towards capability building initiatives for arts organisations or groups, for completion within 12 months from October 2024.

Priority areas:

• Cultural competency and responsiveness to Te Tiriti o te Waitangi
• Accessibility [planning, policy, and training]
• Research and evaluation
• Governance
• Audience engagement
• Financial resilience [revenue generation and diversification]
• Environmental responsiveness
• Website development or upgrades can only be funded if it is linked to one of the priority areas.

Not eligible:

• Capital expenditure, for example, CRM software
• Costs to modify physical workspaces

New Leaders Programme [no grants]

• Supports new and emerging leaders to grow their skills and build peer support networks leading to strong, sustainable arts communities and organisations.
• For new and emerging leaders in arts organisations or communities.
• Provides a peer support network and capability-building opportunities focusing on the relationship between governance and management, financial literacy, and influencing skills.

Areas:

• Health and Safety
• Human Resources and managing people
• Working with Boards
• Strategic planning
• Compliance and regulatory reporting
• Financial literacy
• Public speaking and media engagement

Arts Organisations and Groups Fund [up to $50k per year for 1-2 years]

• Deliver a programme of work for up to two years
• Have a dynamic vision for the arts in Aotearoa and are making a positive impact within their communities.
• Have a particular purpose or vision;  be engaged in ongoing activity;  continue operating even if people change.
• Not all will have a formal strategic plan, professional staff, or to be a legal entity.
• Any operational or artistic costs.

Arts Organisations and Groups Fund [$50k-$125k per year for 1-2 years]

• Deliver a programme of work for up to two years
• Have a particular purpose or vision; be engaged in ongoing activity; continue operating even if people change; have a board/governing body
• Have a dynamic vision for the arts in Aotearoa and make a positive impact in their communities.
• Amounts above $100k granted by exception only and dependent on funding available.
• Grant no more than 50% of annual revenue.
• Can be used for any operational or artistic costs.

Residencies, Internships and Fellowships Fund [$ to be advised]

• Support providers [organisations, trusts, groups or individuals] to offer a residency, fellowship, or internship for up to three years.
• Cost to deliver a residency, fellowship, or internship for up to three years, including:
  • An artist’s stipend or wage
  • Travel and accommodation
  • Materials

The Detail – Arts Practitioners

Creative Fellowship Fund [$25k for six months, $50k for 18 months].

• Support artists, practitioners and collaboratives to develop, innovate, create and develop fresh ideas and approaches in their work.
• Contribution towards living costs, materials and resources needed to produce work.
• Can also apply to Creative Impact Fund before current grant has been completed.

Development Fund for Artists and Practitioners

• Support artists and practitioners to expand skills and careers through specific professional and creative development initiatives.
• Fees and costs for professional and creative development, eg research, training, coaching, mentoring, and attending workshops, conferences, and wānanga nationally and internationally.
• Capital items if directly related to development activities and provide long-term benefits to professional or creative development.

Creative Impact Fund [$50k or up to $125k for 18 months, complement Creative Fellowship Fund]

• Support artists, practitioners, and collaboratives to make, share and present work that enriches audiences and communities encouraging understanding and participation
• Encourages the sharing of knowledge and skills with others; enriches audiences and communities, the creation and presentation of impactful work; deepens the understanding of, and participation in, the arts.
• Amounts above $100k granted by exception only and dependent on funding available.
• Creation and presentation of artwork [exhibitions or performances], distribution of artwork, audience engagement and raising awareness [including research and advocacy], workshops and knowledge and skills sharing

In a 12-month period, you can:

• Receive the Creative Impact grant twice, to a maximum of $100,000 [e.g., two 50,000 grants], but you must finish the first grant before applying again, or
• Receive one Creative Impact grant over $50,000
• Receive a maximum of $125,000 across the Creative Fellowship Fund and the Creative Impact Fund combined

Early Career Fund [up to $10k]

• Support artists, practitioners, and collaboratives at the early stage of their career who wish to learn, create, and share their mahi with their communities and have the support of a mentor.
• Creating, presenting, or distributing your work; sharing knowledge and skills with others; mentor fees.